sohcpunk

I know a lot of people on here are only running the front bars because of auto x class. But has anyone ever experience just running the rear sway bar? I know it will give you oversteer but how much am I expecting? Will it be safe for street use?

PUR NRG

Why not call Racing Beat and ask their professional opinion?
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1952 ford specifications

sohcpunk

I did, just getting some more feedback from people that are actually running this setup.

Sputnik

I don't know if anyone is actually running that setup. It doesn't make much sense. Not only will it change the balance to more oversteer, but it might create a situation where "snap oversteer" has more of a chance of happening, which wouldn't be as safe on the street. I'm not saying that you'll go around without warning, but you won't have as much room before you find the edge as before, and you won't have gained any handling performance in doing so.

---jps

GeorgeH

iTrader: (2)

Agreed. Why do you ask? Is there some handling issue you are trying to resolve?

thew

yea ? why do you want to do that ?

all or nothing.. !!

sohcpunk

I want to do this upgrade because I feel the RX-8 has some understeer and maybe by upgrading the rear sway bar, it will make it have a neutral handling with a sligh oversteer. I think oversteer is needed if you want to corner well. As many of you know, almost all cars come stock with understeer due to safety issues. I know a lot of Honda owners that just replace the rear bars with beefier ones and end up with really good suspension setup. While Hondas are running FWD setup, it is not dangerous for them. Just wondering how it would feel with oversteer + rear wheel drive.

epitrochoid

most FWD econoboxs are designed to understeer..the 8 is tail happy, if it's understeering on you, you're not driving it right

Sputnik

Most FWD cars are heavier in front than in back, which is the main reason why they understeer.

Removing the front swaybar altogether is a bit more extreme than adding a stiffer rear. This is not one of those cars that needs a drastic change like that.

Not every car has understeer built into it. Some sports cars are set up for performance, and this is one of them.

---jps

pkwa

I have stock sway bars on my car now, and it oversteers as much as my friend's 930. quite fun actually. Controllable too. I do have racing beat sway bars in the garage waiting for me to install them. but I could not imagine doing just the rear. I think it would make the car dangerously oversteer. Lots of sliding backwards into the ditch.

RXg8tor

I had the RB rear bar only on my 8 for about two weeks while I was waiting for the front to be shipped. I installed it by itself mainly because i'm an impaitent person, but i knew what the effect would be on handling..... Let me tell you, It felt like a mustang or some other POS. The rear end was all over the road.
BTW the RB front bar is in now, and all is well. Got better auto-x times too!

sohcpunk

I am just bringing this back from the dead because I recently just installed the rear sway bars because I didnt' have time to installed the front. The car does not feel as dangerous as you guys said. I took a lot of hard turns and it seems the front is loose but rear is planted. It might have a slight oversteer but it is not the extreme type where i could get snap oversteer. The front bar will go on next weekend and well see how that goes. BTW, I am installing the Tanabe bars and the rear is 20mm which is thicker than RAcing beats.

Im_DANomite

iTrader: (1)

not a good idea. when you come around a gradual turn (like and exit off a hwy), you can actually feel the back end's stiffness. and yes, you're more likely of getting into a snap oversteer situation, which is pretty much a non-recoverable situation. a good prime example of cars w/ snap oversteer is the mr2. i have one and it's scary as hell. a lot of 2 owners have lost their car to snap oversteer. be afraid, be very afraid. muahahahahaha...

**edit** ok...you already did it. i guess i tried to scare you a little too much.